The Institute of Medicine is convening the Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public to advance the science, understanding, and progress of integrative medicine and explore how this approach to medicine can contribute to solving the nation's health care crisis.

Integrative medicine is described as orienting the health care process to engage patients and caregivers in the full range of physical, psychological, social, preventive, and therapeutic factors known to be effective and necessary for the achievement of optimal health. Topics to be examined during the summit include: patient-centered care, the scientific basis of integrative medicine, continuity of care, health care financing reform and value-driven care, team-based care processes, and mind-body relationships and health.

SUMMIT DETAILS: The summit will be held Feb. 25-27 in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences building at 2100 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Panel presentations will begin at 9 a.m. on the first two days and at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 27. A complete agenda and registration information are available at http://www.iom.edu/integrativemedicine.

Presenters include:
  • Donald Berwick, M.D., president and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston

  • Carol Black, M.D., F.R.C.P., chair, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, London

  • Harvey Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., president, Institute of Medicine

  • Erminia Guarneri, M.D., founder and medical director, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, La
Jolla, Calif.
  • George Halvorson, CEO, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, Calif.

  • Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

  • Michael Johns, M.D., chancellor, Emory University, Atlanta

  • Richard Lifton, M.D., Ph.D., chair, department of genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New
Haven, Conn.
  • William Novelli, CEO, AARP, Washington, D.C.

  • Dean Ornish, M.D., founder and president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, San Francisco

  • Mehmet Oz, M.D., vice chair and professor of surgery, Columbia University, New York City

  • Ralph Snyderman, M.D., chancellor emeritus, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

  • Ellen Stovall, president and CEO, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Washington, D.C.
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Support: The Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public is being held with support from the Bravewell Collaborative.

Source: Christine Stencel
National Academy of Sciences